Automobile door lock



Dec. l0, 1940.

C. L CROOKS AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK Filed June 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVOR. CHAR/ ,ss L 6h00/fa. ATTORNEY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. CHARLES' L 6h00/f5.

BY i f M ATTORNEY.

C. L. CROOKS AUTOMOBILE DOOR Loox Filed June 19, 1939' Dec. 1o, 1940.

,HUT .Il NIU'. H. l il iL. 6 3 .o 2 w M H f 3 w Dec. l0, 1940. c. L. cRooKs AUTOMOBILE DOOR LOCK Filed June 19, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 l INVENTOR. CHARLES L EQUO/r6.

M/ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` 2,224,671 AUTOMOBILE noon Loox Charles Crooks, Pueblo, Colol Application June 19, 1939, ISerial No. 279,835

\ io claims.

This invention relates to a latch and lock construction and is more particularly designed for use upon automobile and other vehicle doors.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and highly efl'lcient lock which: will automatically lock itself whenthe door is closed in such a way that it cannot be pried or jimmied open; will partially open the door as it unlocks it; will be secure against rattling or vibratlng; can be locked by turning an inside handle in one direction and unlocked and unlatched by turning it in the other direction; can be securely locked by means of a key from the exterior; and which can be electrically locked if desired from a l5 central electric control.

The invention is more particularly designed as an improvement over the construction shown in applicants Patent No. 2,181,393, dated Nov. 28, 1939.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates an inside face view and vertical section of the improved lock illustrating it in the unlocked position. The section is taken on the line Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, illustrating an inside view of the end portion of the lock.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal section through the handle shaft portion of the lock, 40 taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1 illustrating the outside handle shaft in place in thelock.

Fig. 4 is an inside face view of the improved I lock in the locked position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 45 5-5, Fig. 4, illustrating the locking jaws in the locked position.

Fig. 6 is a detail section taken on the line 66, Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view illus- 50 trating the improved lock in place on an automotive vehicle door.

Fig. 8 is a detail section through the locking solenoid.

Fig. 9 is an-end view of the locking solenoid.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the hinge switch which may be employed if the lock is to be used for electrical operation.

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram 4of the electrical locking system.

The improved -lock mechanism is mounted on a case plate I0 turned at 90 at one extremity to form a door edge flange The lock is of the type designed to receive and engage a spearheaded keeper I2. The keeper I2 is mounted on a keeper plate |3 and is provided in its opposite l. edges withjaw notches I4. The case plate I0 is formed with an opening I5, into which the keeper I2 enters to be engaged by a. pair of hooked jaws I6. The jaws I6 are mounted upon pivot pins I1 projecting from the plate I0 and Il are shaped so that their interior extremities will overlap each other," as shown in Fig. 2.

A slide plate I8 underlies the overlapped extremities of the jaws I6 and carries a pointed wedge`boss I9 between the pivots I1.

As the keeper I2 enters the lock, its point will strike the boss I9 forcing it inwardly. The boss will strike the overlapped extremities of the jaws I6 forcing them apart and causing the hooked extremities thereof to enter the notches I4 in the 2l keeper, as shown in Fig. 5, to firmly lock the keeper in place. The jaws I6 cannot be operated to release the keeper without also moving the slide plate I8 outwardly. The slide plate is mounted in slides 20 formed from the metal of 30 the flange A bell crank lever 2| is connected at one extremity with the slide plate I8 through the medium of a rivet 22, which is movably contained in a slotted hole 23 in the lever. The lever. 2| 3l is pivoted on the ilange upon a pivot rivet 24 which is also contained in a slotted hole 25 in the lever. The lever is constantly lifted-by means of a spring 26 to the position of Fig. 2 so that the rivets 22 and 24 will normally be in the lower 4| extremities of the holes 23 and 25.

The slide plate I8 can move inwardly, at any time to receive the keeper since it can force the lever 2| downwardly over the rivets 22 and 2l. As the slideplate moves outwardly, it must sepa- 4I rate the jaws I6, due to the fact that it is provided with flanges 21 which engage the rear extremities of the latter levers. The slide plate, however, cannot move outwardly from the locked position of Fig. 5 due to the fact that it is formed 5l with a locking flange 28 which engages a stop hook 29 on the lever 2| which prevents outward movement thereof until the lever2| is rst moved downwardly.

The downward movement of the lever 2| is ac- Ilv complished by means of a locking plate 38 which is vertically slidable on the case plate I8 and which is held thereon by means of slides 3l formed of the metal of the plate 38. The plate 3l is provided with a projection 32 overlying the free extremity of the lever V2 I. Thus, if the plate 38 is forced downwardly, it will force the lever 2l downwardly as a slide due to slots 23, 25, and remove the locking hook 28 from the path of the slide plate I8. As soon as the unlocking has occurred. further downward movement will swing the lever 2| outwardly to open the jaws and push the keeper from place partially opening the door.

Normally the locking plate 88 is supported by means of a coil spring 33, as shownin Fig. 4. When in the elevated position, the plate 38 is engaged by a locking tooth 34 on a locking lever 35 pivoted at 35 on the case plate l0. A coil spring 31 constantly urges the lever 35 toward the plate 28. Therefore, the plate 30 cannot be moved to unlock the lock until the lever 35 is ilrst swung from its path as shown in broken line in Fig. 4.

For automotive use, the lock is designed to be operated either from an inside or an outside handle. The outside handle is indicated at 28, in Fig. 3, and is provided with a lock mechanism 38. The handle 38 is mounted on a handle stail 48 which extends into a squared socket in an opening cam 4l. The cylinder of the lock 39 is provided with a lock cylinder shaft 42 which extends through the staff 40 and terminates in an unlocking cam 43.

The cam 4I is formed with an arm 44 which, when the handle 38 is rotated, engages the upper edge of the locking plate 30 to force it downwardly against the action of the spring 33. 'I'he unlocking cam 43 is also provided with an arm 45 which, when the lock cylinder is rotated, engages the upper extremity of the lever 35 to tilt '40 it to the broken-line position of Fig. 4, so as to release the plate 30 and unlock the lock. The inner handle of the door, shown at 41, is connected by means of a connecting rod 48 to a u hinge pin 48 on the lower extremity of the lever as is rotated, the arm u will swing against the plate 30 to force it downward to open the locking jaws. When the inner handle is rotated, its rst movement will be to pull the lever 35 from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 1. Further movement will cause the upper extremity of the lever 35 to swing downwardly, as shown in broken line, in Fig. 1, to force the plate 30 downwardly and open the locking jaws and the door.

To facilitate the contact between the lever 35 and the Aplate 30, a pair of projecting pads 49 are turned on these members.

The lock is also designed for electrical locking so that all the doors of the automobile can be connected to a switch which, when closed, will simultaneously lock all of the doors.

In the electrical form of operation, the locking spring 31 is removed-and its function is performed by a solenoid 50 which is pivotally mounted on the plate 30 upon a hinge pin 5I. An armature extends through the solenoid and is pivoted on the arm 35 by means of a pivot pin 54. The armature consists of an iron magnetic portion 52 and a non-magnetic portion 53, of brass or similar metal. T'he two portions of the amature 52 and 53 are separated by an insulatf.

ing portion 55. A pair of spring brushes 55 on the solenoid, contact opposite sides of the armature. One terminal of the solenoid is connected to one of the brushes. The other terminal thereof is connected to a binding screw 51. The other brush is grounded.

When adapted to electrical operation, each door of the automobile is provided with a hinge switch 58 at its hinged side so that when the door is closed, the switch will close a circuit.

'I'he wiring for the electrical system is shown in Fig. 1l. The car battery is indicated at 59. A lead from the battery is run to an instrument board switch 88, from which a conductor 6I leads to the door switches 58 of all doors. Each door switch is connected by a conductor 52 extending through each door to the binding screw 51 of its solenoid. A

It can be seen that. when the doors are open, the circuit to the solenoids is broken at the door switches 58. When the doors are closed, however, this circuit is closed, except for the instrument board switch 50. If the instrument board switch is closed, the solenoids will be energized and the magnetic portion 52 of each amature will be attracted to draw the locking levers of all the locks beneath their lock plates 30. As soon as these levers reach the locked position, the insulating portion 55 of the armature will come between the two brushes to break the circuit to the solenoid. 'Ihe friction of the brushes against the armature will hold the locking levers 35 in position until they are released by operation of the inner door handle 41 or by the arm 45 of the lock 38.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is d esired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves intosaid jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally inthe openingv path of said slide plate; and means for rotating sairiizebell-crank leverffrom the path of said slide pla 2. In 4a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising:l overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the-keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; meanson said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in. the

opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the' path of said slide plate; and spring means for holding szliid projecting portion in the path of said slide p a e.

3. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path oi the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeperrmoves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the openingA path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate; a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; and means on said locking plate for engaging' `the free extremity oi' said lever to rotate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one direction.

4. In a lock oi the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a'slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the opening 45 path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate; a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to s aid lever; means on said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of said lever to ro- 50 tate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one direction; and manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever.

5. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, 55 having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws-comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate 60 in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from 05 said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said 0 bell-crank lever from the path of Isaid slide plate;

a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; means on said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of said lever to rotate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one 75 direction; manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever; a locking lever positioned to swing into the path of movement of said locking plate to prevent movement of the latter; and manually operated means for removing said locking lever from the path of said locking plate.

6. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type,

having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprisingi, overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide platevadjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the opening path of 'said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate; a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; means on said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of said lever to rotate the latter as sa-idslide plate is moved in one direction: manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever; a locking lever positioned to swinginto the path of movement of said locking plate to prevent movement of the latter; manually operated means for removing said locking lever from the path of said locking plate; and electrically operated means for swinging said locking lever into the path of said locking plate.

'7. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free ex- `'tremity of said lever, normally in the opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate; a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; means on said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of said lever to rotate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one direction; manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever; a locking lever positioned to swing into the path of movement of said locking plate to prevent movement of the latter; an opening cam for moving said locking plate; an unlocking cam for removing `said locking lever from the path of said locking plate; handle means for rotating said opening cam; and lock actuated means for rotating said unlocking cam. f

8. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into toward each other as said keeper moves from y is said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the vrearward extremities to force the latter toward `each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to saidislide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate; a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; means on'said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of saidlever to rotate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one direction; manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever; a locking lever positioned to swing into the path of movement of said locking plate to prevent movement of the latter; manually operated means for removing said locking lever from the path of said locking plate; electrically operated means for swinging said locking lever into the path of said locking plate, said electrically operated means comprising a solenoid pivoted on said locking plate; and an armature in said solenoid pivotally connected with said locking lever so as to dra'w said lever toward said plate when said solenoid is energized.

9. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head of the keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities onv said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path of the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to'force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves from said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at its one extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity of said lever, normally in the `opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path of said slide plate;

a slidable locking plate positioned at right angles to said lever; means on said locking plate for engaging the free extremity of said lever to rotate the latter as said slide plate is moved in one direc-- tion; manually operated means for moving said locking plate into engagement with said lever; a locking lever positioned to swing into the path of movement of said locking plate to prevent movement of the latter; manually operated means for removing said locking lever from the path oi.' said locking plate; electrically operated means for swinging said locking lever into the path of said locking plate, said electrically operated means comprising a solenoid pivoted on said locking plate; an armature in said solenoid pivotally connected with said locking lever so as to draw said lever toward said plate when said solenoid is energized; and means for automatically breaking the circuit to said solenoid when the locking of said lock is completed.

l0. In a lock of the spear-head keeper type, having hooked jaws for engaging the head ofthe keeper, means for operating said jaws, comprising: overlapped, rearward extremities on said jaws; a slide plate adjacent said overlapped extremities; a projecting portion on said slide plate in the path oi the keeper acting to separate said rearward extremities as said keeper moves into said jaws; means on said slide plate for engaging the rearward extremities to force the latter toward each other as said keeper moves vfrom said jaws; a bell-crank lever pivoted to said slide plate and connected to said slide plate at itsone extremity; a projecting portion on the free extremity oi' said lever, normally in the opening path of said slide plate; means for rotating said bell-crank lever from the path oi' said slide plate, the pivot of said lever and the connection between said lever and said slide plate being laterally free to allow said lever to move without rotation as Asaid keeper moves into said jaws; and spring means for resisting movement of said lever.

CHARLES L. CROOKS. 

